Heat exchanger



G. H. CAIN HEAT AEXCHANGER Sept. 20, 1938.

Filed Jun 17, 1936 INVENTOR my Mwr HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 20, 1938 ZABQASS FFEQE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to the conversion of solids to liquids, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved heater.

An object of my invention is to provide a heating device in which the liquid is drained from the solids as it forms and in which the forces of gravity move the. solids into efiective heating relation with the device. Because of complete and continuous drainage of the liquid, I eliminate the necessity for heating an increasingly larger pool of liquid in which solids are submerged or float. Thus, the solids may be melted at relatively low temperatures which prevent damage to the liquid because of excessive heat. Much less heat is required for melting a given amount of solids than in a kettle or heater in which the liquid is not drained from the solid as it forms, and in addition greatly shortening the time required to melt a given mass.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the kettle;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional View along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my invention, I make use of a kettle Ill including an accumulator part l2 and a flared top portion M constituting a receptacle for materials to be melted. Within the kettle, I mount a cone 16 which has its base it terminating in slightly spaced and concentric relation with the inner wall surface of the accumulator l2. The space between the base of the cone and the wall of the accumulator is of sufficiently small proportion to prevent solid material being melted from dropping into the accumulator IE, but the space is sufliciently large to permit the material reducedto liquid form to pass into the accumulator.

The kettle it includes an outer wall 29 and an inner wall 22 arranged in spaced relation. I provide the wall 28 with a flange 2-! welded to a wider flange 25 formed at the flared end of the inner wall 22. Flange 26 provides a wall which spans the space between the walls 2!! and 22.

Bottoms 28 and 39 of the walls 28 and 22, respectively, are supported in spaced relation by a spacer 32. Ihe spacer includes a neck 34 passing through an opening in the bottom 28, which neck is flared at 36 for connecting purposes. Similarly, the other end of the spacer includes a neck 38 passing through an opening in the bottom 3% and flared at 4B for connecting purposes. A valve 42 is threaded into the threaded bore 44 in -medium of the valve 42.

the spacer 32 to permit liquids to be drained from the accumulator.

Steam is admitted to the space between the walls 20 and 22 through the medium of a pipe 46. boss 5%] having an end 52 passing through an opening in the wall 2c, and a flange 5d welded at 55 to the wall. An outlet pipe 58 is connected with a boss fit anchored to the bottom 28. Steam admitted to the space between the walls 29 and 10 22 is also admitted to the space between the inner wall 32 and the outer wall 6 5 which make up the cone H5. The base of the inner wall 62 terminates in a flange it which is welded at 68 to the base end of the outer wall 64. Flange 55 is pro- 15 vided with two bosses iii located at diametrically opposite points, which bosses are provided with openings l2 having communication with the space between the walls 62 and 64.

Two bosses M are secured to the inner wall 22 20 as by welding 16. Each boss 74 includes an end l8 passing through an opening in the wall 22 and includes a threaded bore Bil having communication with the space between the walls 26 and 22. An elbow 82 has threaded relation with each bore. 25 81?. Referring to Fig. 3, the elbows include flanges 84 fitting snugly within the opening 72, and shoulders 86 arranged to sealing gaskets 88 pressed thereagainst by the ends of the bosses 70. Means for securely fastening the cone iii in place 0 consists of bolts 96 threaded into ledges 92 inv the elbows 82. These bolts pass centrally through the openings 72 and through openings 94 in the outer wall 64, as well as through openings 95 in ledges 98 welded to the exterior surface of the 35 wall 64. When the nuts mt are tightened, good sealing relation is established between the elbows 82 and the bosses l0.

Lugs H32 project inwardly from the inner wall 22 and extend underneath the base of the cone i5 for balancing the same upon the elbows 82, Lugs m2 may be welded to the wall 22. Because of the detachable mounting for the cone i6, cones of different base diameter may be substituted to vary the space between the base of the cone and the wall of the kettle for materials of different physical properties.

In operation, material to be melted is placed in the flared end l4 and about the cone l5. Steam is admitted to the space between the walls 20 and 22 and between the walls of the cone I6. The heat of the steam causes the material to melt, and the liquid runs into the accumulator i from which it may be withdrawn through the My invention provides This pipe has threaded relation atIiS with a 5' an eflicient device for melting a large range of materials at relatively low temperatures because of the distribution of heat with respect to the materials placed in the kettle, and also because of the fact that the liquid is drained into the accumulator as soon as it forms.

In Fig. 2, I illustrate the kettle as being supported by legs I04 which carry a ring I96 shaped to embrace the kettle. While I have illustrated the kettle as being circular in cross section, my invention is applicable to kettles of various shapes and sizes.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a device of the type described comprising a kettle having a jacket for the circulation of a heating medium around its wall and bottom, heat transfer means mounted within the kettle in spaced relation with its bottom, said heat transfer means simulating an inverted V in cross section and having a jacket, the base of the heat transfer means being spaced from the inner face of the kettle sufliciently far to permit liquids to drain into the bottom of the kettle but to prevent solids from passing therebetween, and means for establishing communication between the jacket of the heat transfer means and the kettle.

2. A device of the type described comprising a kettle including spaced walls for the circulation of a heating medium therebetween, said spaced walls extending about the sides and bottom of the kettle, the upper end of the kettle being flared outwardly, a heat transfer member positioned inside the kettle, said heat transfer mem ber simulating an inverted V in cross section and comprising spaced walls for the circulation of a heating medium therebetween, said heat transfer member being so positioned with respect to the flared end of the kettle as to provide a V- shaped receptacle for materials to be melted, the base of said heat transfer member being spaced from the inner face of the kettle sufficiently far to permit liquid to pass therebetween but to prevent solids from falling below the member, and means for establishing communication between the spaced walls of the heat transfer member and the spaced walls of the kettle.

GORDON H. CAIN. 

